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EBRD President to visit Kosovo and FYR Macedonia
Meetings scheduled with senior government officials and business leaders
The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Jean Lemierre, will visit Kosovo and FYR Macedonia 13 - 15 November to reiterate the Bank's support for continuing economic reforms, and to explore how the EBRD can help boost investments.
In Kosovo, a province of FR Yugoslavia under UN administration, Mr Lemierre will meet with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Michael Steiner. He will also visit the Micro Enterprise Bank (MEB), Kosovo's first bank set up during UN administration, in which the EBRD provided an equity stake to help start banking activities in Kosovo and provide financing to the emerging private sector. To date over €47 million has been disbursed from the MEB, through 6,800 loans to micro and small companies. Mr Lemierre said the MEB has been a success beyond expectations, and that it is having a positive impact on the Kosovan economy.
Looking ahead, the EBRD expects to support Kosovo's upcoming privatisation process, will consider providing technical assistance and financing to the telecommunication sector, and will help strengthen the banking sector.
In FYR Macedonia, Mr Lemierre will meet with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, other senior government officials, local business leaders and representatives of the international community based in Skopje. He will also attend the Central European Initiative summit on 15 November.
Mr Lemierre said the EBRD is a committed partner for FYR Macedonia, and the Bank is ready to build on its successful portfolio to invest more in the country. The Bank will focus on the energy sector, micro and SME financing, the consolidation of the banking sector and the development of non-bank financial institutions.
The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in FYR Macedonia, with over €275 million invested in 17 projects, and has mobilised over €352 million in co-financing.
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